Windshield wiper and defroster power supply



April 8, 1953 J. R. OISHEI 2,636,206

WINDSHIELD WIPER AND DEFROSTER POWER SUPPLY Filed NOV. 20, 1948 l NVEN TO R Jo/m R. 0/5/7e/ Patented Apr. 28, 1953 WINDSHIELD W'IPER AND DEFROSTER POWER SUPPLY John a. Oishci, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application November 20, 1948, Serial No. 615234 This invention relates to a motor vehicle and more particularly to the accessory system thereof.

The windshield cleaner of the present day vehicle has long been connected to the intake manifold of the vehicle power plant for actuation thereby, but due to the fluctuating characteristic of the source of suction, frequent attempts have been made to provide a satisfactory supplementing source'to provide uniform and reliable cleaner performance.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel pressure source for the actuation of the windshield cleaner independently of or in conjunction with the intake manifold.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified arrangement or combination with a passenger accessory unit which will insure a practical supply of fluid pressure for the eificient operation of the windshield cleaner at all times whenever a demand is made for its functioning.

The foregoing and other objects will manifest themselves as the following description progresses, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. l is a schematic view showing the application of the present invention on a motor vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view about on line 22 of- Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral l designates a centrifugal blower of a defroster unit which is operable by an electric motor 2 and electrically connected into circuit with the source of energy 3 by wires 4 and 5, the latter leading to a control switch 6 on an instrument panel I and grounded at 8. By closing the electric circuit the motor 2 will operate the blower l to discharge a blast of air through a hose 9 to a distributing nozzle 10 at the lower inner side of the windshield l I.

Arranged on the outside of the windshield is a wiper [2 designed to be oscillated by an arm l3, which in turn isoperatively connected to a suction operated motor M, the latter being connected by a suction line Hi to the intake manifold 13 of the motor vehicle power plant H. The control valve it of the windshield cleaner motor is designed to be actuated by a flexible connector l9 leading to thecontrol knob 20 on the instrument board. This control i9, 20 also is utilized for opening and closing a switch 2| associated with the valve l8, the switch being grounded at 22' and connected by a circuit wire 23 through Claims. (Cl. 15253) the motor 2 to the battery 3 for energizing the motor to drive a suction pump 24 when necessary for the operation of the windshield cleaner. The control valve l8 and switch 2| may be of any suitable construction such as that shown in copending application Serial No. 733,274, now Patent 2,520,650, August 29, 1950. Ordinarily the manifold suction influence will be ample to operate the cleaner, but in view of the fluctuating character of this source of suction, it is desired to cause the pump to function ina supplementary capacity, or at other times, as when the engine has stopped, to function as the sole source of suction for the cleaner motor.

To this end, and in accordance with the present invention, the pump is operable from theblower motor 2. This simplifies and enables a compactinstallation. The pump, herein illustrated as of the rotary type, has its bladed rotor 25 fixed to the armature shaft 25 of the electricmotor 2. The motor is eccentrically disposed within the pump chamber 21, the latter having an inlet port 28 and an outlet port 29 connected respectively to the windshield cleaner motor [4 and to the intake manifold It by conduits 30 and 3!. If desired a clutch 26a may be interposed in the shaft 26 between the motor 2 and the pump 24 to disconnect the pump from the motor. This clutch may be conveniently controlled by thewindshield cleaner control knob 20 through a flexible connector l9a to be closed during operation of the windshield cleaner.

In view of the fact that the windshield cleaner is operable for long periods primarily by the manifold suction influence alone, it is apparent that the operation of the suction pump 24 is not required during such intervals. Therefore, means are provided to automatically cut in and out the functioning of the motor during such intervals of ample manifold supply, this automatic arrangement being shown in the enlarged section of Fig. 2 and comprising a fixed contact 32 and a movable contact 33, the latter being connec ed by a play connection 34 to a pressure responsive member or plunger 35 slidable within a chamber 36 into which the manifold connected conduit 3| opens. A spring 3'! urges the plunger upwardly into a switch closing position, as shown. When the manifold suction influence is of a predetermined degree, sufficient to operate the windshield cleaner in a practical manner, the suction will depress the plunger 35 to cause the shoulder 38 on the plunger stem to separate the contact 33 from the fixed contact andthereby.

'- render the'electrie motor inoperative. The conduits 3i! and Si of the suction line are directly connected by a shunt passage 39 which includes a spring seated check valve 40 opening toward the manifold. The inlet and outlet ports 28 and 29 open from the pump into this shunt passage through the openings 4| and 42, respectively, the check valve being interposed between such openings.

should theumanifold suction'be deficient, then the plunger will reestablish the circuit through the contacts 32, 33 under the urge of the spring 31 to energize the electric motor. hicle is parked and the engine arrested, theclosing of the switch 2! concurrently with theopening of the valve I8 will energize the motor driven pump to provide suction for cIeaHeroperation.

In the modification of Fig. .3 ,thchir flow unit.

within the passenger compartment of the vehicle is depicted as a car heater and has arradial'inrv through which air is circulated by a fan I which for ease of description may :be referred to ace blower. {Ibis ion or hlo-weris driven by an electric motor 2 themotor ibeingrelcctricallv connected to the battery 13 by a wire-4 and to a control switch 6 by a circuit wire 5.. The wind shield cleaner motorM is likewise (fluid actuated and operatively connected to the wiper actuating arm 13 in a mannerfor oscillatin z-the wiper i 2. The suction line connects the manifold 18 to the fluid motor through a control valve 18', the latter being actuated from the con-trolknob 2 Ben the ihstrumentpanel.

In lieu of having the motor actuated by the pressure differential between the imaniiold suction influencean-d theioutsideiatmosphere, the latter pressure is -replacedby a superatmospheric one as developed by the qai-r'pump 24. This ,air pump may be similar .in'construction to the air pump :24 so that its rotor will be :driven by the shaft 25' of the armature of themotorZ', The air inlet for the pump will he provided with an air-filter .43 and the discharge from the pump will be carried by a conduit M to the .air tight automatic valve chamber #5. Theswiteh 21- will be connected .in circuit with the battery 3 and the electric motor ,2 by the wire 2,3 so that whenever .the control knob 2i! actuated the pump will be energized to supply the windshield cleaner motor with ,a superatmospheric pressure :sufficient in itself to actuate the fluid i QtQI' when the engine .is at :rest. or :to co perate with the manifold suction influence whenever the engine is .inoperation.

In either dorm or :the invention electric motor of the pa enger c mpartment accessory is ,uti-lizedina dual capacity for providing :air flow for the actuation of the fluid motor of the windshield cleaner. The rotor or fan element of the blower I is fixed to rotate with the rotor 25 f the air pump 24. Likewise, a'bhBrI'OtQrOl rfa-n 5'" of the heater is fixed on the armature shaft of the electric motor to rotate with the bladed rotor of the air pump or compressor 24. This plural rotor unit will rotate whenever the inside .accessory is-called upon by the control it. It will operate at other times when the windshield cleaner is actuated during intervals which the vmani fold influence is deficient or wholly lacking. Such intervals, however, are .-not too often and are in duration for .a relatively shorter time as compared to the operating period of the passengercompartment accessory unit.

".If desired, the compressor 24' may discharge directly to the atmosphere through a vent 48 when .the-windshieldcleaner is inoperative. illh-i When the ve 4 vent may be closed by a valve 41 seated by an electro-magnet 48, which in turn is interposed in the electric circuit connection 23.

The windshield cleaner unit and the inside or passenger compartment unit have a common source of power for producing dual air streams, one within and one without the windshield, the air flow from the car heater, like the air flow irom'the defroster, serving Ito circulate air within the passenger compartment and thereby remove vision obscuring matter and condensation from the inner surface of the windshield, while the other-lair stream sets in motion a mechanism iper removing vision obscuring matter from the outer surface. power simplifies and facilitates the installation .Qf accessories and further reduces the wear and tear on the storage battery 3.

The common source of motive Thearmature of the electric motor together with the rotors fixed on the opposite ends of the arma ure shaf co s itu es a fixed and orer tes a all times as .such whenever -the-e1ec io motoris called into use. lclutohimeans may be provided t disconnect either or both of the rotors from the armature whereby the electric motor may function .to drive each rotor ,independentlyof the other.

:The foregoing description has been given in detail without thought ,of limitation since the inventive principles involved are capable of assuming other physical embodiments without xdepart ing from the spirit of theinventionand the scope ofthe appcndedclaims.

W hatisrclaimed is:

i. In a motor vehicle having :a windshield, a windshield cleaner unit for removing vision obscuring matter from the-exterior surface ,thereof and operable by .a fluid pressure moto a ch senger compartment accessory unit arranged for conducting airflow in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, said accessory unit having ablower and an el ctric ,motor driving the same, ,a :pump connected :tov the clea er unit ior supplyin a operating pressure difierential therefor, :means operatively connecting the pump to the electric motor of the acc s ory un to be driven thereby as a source of power common to both units, and control means for each unit each operable independently oi the other and acting to energize the electric m to 2. In a motor vehicle, a vehicle accessory unit pe able by a hold pres ure .mo r, a p s en e compartmen accessory u i arran ed fo conducting airflow in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, said passenger compartment accessory unit having a blower and an electricmotor driving the same, a pump connected to said ve-. hicle accessory unit for supplying an operating pressure .difierential therefor, clutch means selectively connecting the *pulhp'to the electric motor of said passenger compartment accessory unit to be driven thereby as a source of power common to both units, and control means for each unit each operable independently of the other and and operable by a fluid pressure'motor, a source of fluctuating pressure connected to the fluid m0-' tor for operating the same, a passenger compartment accessory unit arranged for effecting .air-. flow in the interior of the vehicle so as tenet on.

the interior surfacepf said windshield and aid in removing"'visic ohscori e material :firom said .1-

windshield, said accessory unit having a blower and an electric motor driving the same, a pump connected to the cleaner unit for supplying an operating pressure differential therefor, means operatively connecting the pump to the electric motor of the accessory unit to be driven thereby as a source of power common to both units, and control means for each unit each operable independently of the other and acting to energize the electric motor, said control means for the cleaner unit being responsive to the pressure of said fluctuating source for rendering the electric motor operative for windshield cleaner operation during intervals when the fluctuating pressure is insufficient for cleaner operation.

4. In a windshield clearing system, a motor, blower means operatively connected to said motor for moving a stream of air against the windshield by the power of the motor to remove moisture deposited on the inner side of the windshield, a windshield cleaner unit, pump means operatively connected to the motor and to the windshield cleaner unit for independently and simultaneously moving a second stream of fluid to supply an operating pressure differential for the windshield cleaner unit, and control means for the cleaner unit and for the blower each operable independently of the other and acting to energize the electric motor whereby either stream of fluid may be moved by the power of the motor as a source of power common to both.

5. In a motor vehicle, a fluid pressure motor, a passenger compartment accessory unit arranged for conducting airflow in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, said accessory unit having a blower and an electric motor driving the same, a pump connected to the pressure motor for supplying an operating pressure differential therefor, means operatively connecting the pump to the electric motor of the accessory unit to be driven thereby as a source of power common to both the pressure motor and the accessory unit, and control means for the pressure motor and the accessory unit each operable independently of the other and acting to energize the electric motor.

JOHN R. OISHEI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,613,034 Janette Jan. 4, 1927 1,907,032 Askin May 2, 1933 2,002,318 Hueber May 21, 1935 2,021,857 Hueber Nov. 19, 1935 2,059,457 Horton Nov. 3, 1936 2,164,854 Booth July 4, 1939 2,165,181 Horton July 4, 1939 2,188,388 Butterfield Jan. 30, 1940 2,323,470 Horton July 6, 1943 2,465,554 Roy Mar. 29, 1949 

